Commercially grazed pastures traditionally have been overlooked in conservation strategies, but in the past decade, reports have emerged of significant native vegetation surviving in pastures, including rare species. CSIRO scientists have investigated this new outlook on pastures in a study of ground flora associated with major land uses and habitat types at three beef production properties in south-east Queensland. The study found that a wealth of plant species were maintained in native pastures, due in part to selective grazing pressures. It has also yielded advice for graziers on how to maintain productive agricultural ecosystems amid the grassy eucalypt (mostly ironbark) woodland and forest.